Southwest Rink at Skyline Park opens for ice skating

Ice skaters take their first laps around the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park, which opened for the winter season on Tuesday.

Moaath Almotairi had no idea he would end up ice skating Tuesday as he and his family embarked down the 16th Street Mall.

Visiting from Texas, Almotairi was drawn in by the music and decided to lace up some ice skates and take a few laps around the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park, which opened for its seventh season on a chilly Tuesday just below the D&F Tower at 16th and Arapahoe streets.

“It’s amazing,” Almotairi said.

The rink will be open seven days a week — including Thanksgiving and Christmas — through Feb. 14 and is free to the public. There is a $2 fee for skate rentals. Hours for the rink will vary throughout the season, but for a full list times, visit southwestrink.com.

The rink was started thanks to an agreement between the Downtown Denver Partnership, Southwest Airlines and Denver Parks and Recreation.

“The winter season is all about experiences, and to ice skate in the heart of the city with family and friends, there’s nothing like it,” said Tami Door, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership.

Door said that more than 270,000 people have used the rink in the past six years and expects about 60,000 more to come out this season.

Andrew Watterson, senior vice president of network and revenue for Southwest Airlines, said that helping fund the rink is part of the community giving the airline does each year in an effort, in part, to create gathering places. He’s excited to see the partnership continue with Denver.

“All the people, they gravitate toward it,” he said. “As long as they see the value, it’s worth our investment.”

Dozens took their first laps of the season around the rink on Tuesday, including several groups of children. Denver Parks and Recreation brought 11 youth ages 5-11 out to get some time in on the rink.

Amy Regnier, an employee of the Colorado Technology Association, also made her way to the opening on Tuesday and said she was glad to see so many kids out enjoying the rink.

“I thought it was wonderful,” she said. “It’s really great to see a lot of kids who maybe haven’t been ice skating before get out here and see the community come together.”